Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 007, folder 35: George F. Alex

Release - Amer. Int. ALEX, George F. 82nd AB Div. 307th Engrs, Co. A Box 7, #35 307th Engineers 82nd N6

George F. Alex (by DK) 307 Engineers A Co. 82nd

1380 Devonshire Grosse Point Park Zone 20, Michigan

George was very nervous - he was 19 years old - went around saying he didn't give a damn nothing was going to happen to him until he was 74. Flew in plane No. 13 - it looked like the first [crossed out] 47 [end crossed out] C-47 ever made. His clothing soaked in oil - [crossed out] poured the [end crossed out] [inserted] the [end inserted] oil [crossed out] on [ end crossed out] [inserted] had been [end inserted] poured on and the guys rolled in the oil the ground/- this was to take off the shine -

George was wearing a large gold ring which his father [crossed out]in law[end crossed out] in World War I - this he turned [crossed out]into[end crossed out] the big part of the ring inside his hand so he could cover it - he returned the ring to his father when he got back home saying * "here's your ring back - I haven' worried about a thing." What he did worry about was being hit in the canteen; it was full of India pale ale - it was all quiet when he landed - all safe - threw their chutes under the bushes. They were about 4 or 5 miles off their drop zone. They took off with a squad very relaxed just as if it was an overnight problem - they headed east to get to a big cross or statue to meet the person to lead them to the CP. They had no compass - no idea where they were - saw a German sprawled in the doorway with a messkit in his hand - practically ran 4 miles to the target - then went back to pick up the bundle - when he got back to the field he met his first fire mostly tracer - he didn't know where they were coming from - so he dropped where he was - pretty soon it stopped and some one else had taken care of it -

Alex was the first man out on this stick - his thinking as he stood there at the door "am I all alone - is the green light going on and when I go [crossed out] will [end crossed out] [inserted] are [end inserted] the other guys going to follow me?" He carried about 60 to 100 lbs. pack including a lot of TNT - His buddy carried the caps and primacord. Their objective the railroad bridge over a creek over the Merderet - they were supposed to mine the bridge [crossed out] and [end crossed out] but not to blow it, unless it was attacked o550. He was loading the tressle under a barrage - he lay low, half an hour later the bridge was overrun by U. S. troops so he hit his detonators

George F. Alex -2-

left the bridge and went to find his company.

George Alex (Greek) 301 Engrs, A Co 82nd 2nd jump 1380 Devonshire Grosse Pt Park 20 Mich Very nervous, 19, saying he didn't give a damn - Nothing going to happen till he was 74. Plane No 13, looked like first C47 made No 1 man out. [?off?] Walter Findley (deflect plane ) Landed on feet in good shape, best jump I ever made. Clothing full of oil. Poured in dirt, rolled in it. To take off shine. Turned gold ring under hand, ring worn by father in WWI., returned to father when he got home. "Here's your ring back, I'm home I worried about its shine. Canteens full of IP Ale All quiet when he [?hit?], All safe. The chute under bush About 4-5 miles off DZ. Took off with squad Very relaxed, to be an overnight problem. Relieved by no problems. Headed east, big cross statue, supposed to meet person would lead to CP. No compass, No idea where were. Met [?such?] down road, Little village, planned to circle [?saw?] jeep Save German sprawled out in doorway with mess kit in [?hand?]. Practically [illegible] 4 miles to target, went back to pick up bundles. Hit field & first fire, mostly tracers Didn't know where came from. [?had?] rain. Stopped (Someone else had taken care of)

Alex -- Thoughts, Am I alone & is the green light going on, were The others going to follow me? Carried [inserted][illegible] -100 lbs[end inserted] TNT, buddy carried caps & primacord, Objective RR trestle over creek of Merderet supposed to ready for blow if attacked (0550) In loading trestle, under barrage, laid low, Half hour later overrun by US Troops, Left bridge, hid detonators, to find company (? DDay - kid from other unit yelled gas, unit [ ?] as planes came low. No gas. Planes were strafing)